Charles Kettering once said, “A problem clearly stated is a problem half-solved.” An inventor, businessman, and the holder of 186 patents, Kettering certainly faced his share of problems. But through all of his work, he learned that if he clearly stated the problem, half of the work was already done. As a social worker, you too will encounter many social problems. But, by clearly and concisely identifying the problem like Kettering, you, too, will be halfway to solving the problem. However, if you are unable to state the problem…this could present some challenges. Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to: Discuss in writing the implications of not having a clear/concise problem statement. Resources Textbook: Practice-based Research in Social Work: A Guide for Reluctant Researchers Background Information Effective problems statements describe the framework of the study and its general analytic approach. In other words, the problem statement clearly states whether the study is qualitative, descriptive, or experimental. Clearly identifying the design provides focus for the methodology that will be used, in addition to providing guidance for the remainder of the research process. Effective problems statements answer questions. Qualitative research aims to answer questions related to peoples’ perceptions, attitudes, and experiences. A descriptive researcher aims to answer questions that identify and describe the relationship between two or more variables, while experimental research asks about the effects (or causes) of something on something else. If the researcher is unable to state questions clearly and succinctly, the statement sounds ambiguous and wordy. Effective problems statements also try not to do too much. In other words, the researcher should avoid addressing multiple problems within one statement, or taking on broad, overly ambitious problems. Trying to do too much not only confuses the reader, but it also makes identifying the methods much too difficult for the researcher. COMPLEX PROBLEM STATEMENT: The problem of this study is to identify social workers’, administrators’, and clients’ perceptions, attitudes, and experiences toward the new healthcare reform along with their past and current experiences with their doctors and other medical personnel. Myriad problems are associated with this problem statement. First, the statement fails to identify the type of design. Although the reader can infer from the statement that it is qualitative, it is best to simply state that explicitly. Second, the statement has three different constituents. Although it may be useful to understand the perceptions of social workers, administrators, and clients, it is better to simplify the study and focus on one group. Third, it has too many variables: healthcare reform, past experiences with doctors and other medical personnel, and current experiences with doctors and other medical personnel. By not having a clear, concise problem statement, the study loses the focus. BETTER PROBLEM STATEMENT: The problem of this qualitative study is to identify social workers’ perceptions of healthcare reform. This problem statement provides clarity and focus for the study: The statement clearly/concisely identifies which design – qualitative The statement clearly/concisely identifies with whom – social workers The statement clearly/concisely identifies the perceptions of what – healthcare reform Instructions Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade. Read Chapter 2 in your textbook, Practice-based Research in Social Work: A Guide for Reluctant Researchers. Navigate to the threaded discussion and respond to the following discussion question: Discuss the implications of not having a clear/concise problem statement. Your initial post of at least 250 words is due by the end of the third day of the workshop.

Case Study 1: Alterations of the Endocrine FunctionC.B. is a significantly overweight, 48-year-old woman from the Winnebago Indian tribe who had high blood sugar and cholesterol levels three years ago but did not follow up with a clinical diagnostic work-up. She had participated in the state’s annual health screening program and noticed that her fasting blood sugar was 141 and her cholesterol was 225. However, she felt “perfectly fine at the time” and could not afford any more medications. Except for a number of “female infections,” she has felt fine until recently. Today, she presents to the Indian Hospital general practitioner complaining that her left foot has been weak and numb for nearly three weeks and that the foot is difficult to flex. She denies any other weakness or numbness at this time. However, she reports that she has been very thirsty lately and gets up more often at night to urinate. She has attributed these symptoms to the extremely warm weather and drinking more water to keep hydrated. She has gained a total of 65 pounds since her last pregnancy 14 years ago, 15 pounds in the last 6 months alone.1. Clinical signs are objective manifestations of a disease that can be identified by someone other than the patient. List a minimum of four signs from the case study above that support a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in this patient.2. Why do stress and infection promote hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes?3. Why should medications other than glipizide or glyburide be considered for management of diabetes in this patient?Case Study 2: Alterations of the Musculoskeletal FunctionG.J. is a 71-year-old overweight woman who presents to the Family Practice Clinic for the first time complaining of a long history of bilateral knee discomfort that becomes worse when it rains and usually feels better when the weather is warm and dry. “My arthritis hasn’t improved a bit this summer though,” she states. Discomfort in the left knee is greater than in the right knee. She has also suffered from low back pain for many years, but recently it has become worse. She is having difficulty using the stairs in her home. The patient had recently visited a rheumatologist who tried a variety of NSAIDs to help her with pain control. The medications gave her mild relief but also caused significant and intolerable stomach discomfort. Her pain was alleviated with oxycodone. However, when she showed increasing tolerance and began insisting on higher doses of the medication, the physician told her that she may need surgery and that he could not prescribe more oxycodone for her. She is now seeking medical care at the Family Practice Clinic. Her knees started to get significantly more painful after she gained 20 pounds during the past nine months. Her joints are most stiff when she has been sitting or lying for some time and they tend to “loosen up” with activity. The patient has always been worried about osteoporosis because several family members have been diagnosed with the disease. However, nonclinical manifestations of osteoporosis have developed.1. Identify four risk factors that have predisposed this patient to osteoarthritis.2. The primary cause of limited range of motion in a joint afflicted with osteoarthritis is/are:a. bone spursb. loss of proprioceptive reflexesc. formation of new boned. degeneration of articular cartilagee. cysts that form in subchondral bone3. Are there any forms of complementary and alternative medicine available for treating osteoarthritis?4. What are the brand names of two topical pain creams that contain the pain reliever trolamine salicylate and have been widely promoted to temporarily relieve arthritis pain?5. Cockscomb is a garden plant commonly grown for its flowers. Name a medication derived from cockscomb that is used to treat osteoarthritis.Submission Instructions: You must complete both case studies. Your initial post should be at least 500 words per case study, formatted and cited in current APA style with support from at least 2 academic sources.

Utilizing differentiation strategies in the ELA classroom is vital in meeting the various needs of students and presents an opportunity to address individual personal interests, traits, and goals. Understanding how to differentiate for different learning, linguistic, and cultural needs will increase teaching efficacy. The goal of this assignment is to practice selecting reading texts to support diverse students in the English language arts classroom.For this assignment, complete the “Differentiating for Diverse Students Chart,” appropriately selecting a reading text (fiction or non-fiction) for each student, and providing a 50-100 word rationale for each selection. The text should be engaging, culturally relevant, and selected based on the student’s unique learning needs.In addition, in 100-150 words, describe a strategy or activity that utilizes the selected text to teach an ELA skill for each student. Rationalize your instructional choices, supported by one or more scholarly resource (which may include your text and the readings from this course).Support your findings with 3-5 scholarly resources.While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide,